Training of non-care professionals to improve the early detection of cognitive disorders and the quality of life of elderly people living in the community
The Haute École de Santé HES-SO Valais-Wallis recently concluded its partnership in the national CareMENS project, carried out with Swiss Health Promotion. This four-year project, launched in 2020, aimed to improve the quality of life of vulnerable elderly people living at home and suffering from cognitive and/or behavioral disorders.
Under the guidance of experts like Ms. Élodie PerruchoudClinical Nurse Specialist and Scientific Assistant, and the Prof. Henk VerlooFull professor, both from HES-SO Valais-Wallis, the CareMENS project offered training to non-care professionals in frequent contact with elderly people in the community (pharmacy assistants, cashiers, waiters, hairdressers, etc. .).
Objectives and impact of the CareMENS project
The CareMENS project involved six cantons of French-speaking Switzerland and aimed to raise awareness among various professions, or even all citizens, of the signs of cognitive and/or behavioral disorders. These free training courses raised the awareness of 354 participants in order to enable them to detect/identify disorders among elderly people and to refer them to specialized health professionals.
Training modules offered
The training was organized around three essential modules:
- Physiological versus pathological aging
- Differentiation between the physiological effects of age and pathological signs.
- Dementia and behavioral symptoms
- Information on types of dementia and conditions requiring reporting.
- Courses of action
- Communication and behavioral advice to support older people, as well as a list of contacts to direct people to suitable services
Results and prospects
With 32 training courses provided throughout French-speaking Switzerland, the feedback is very encouraging: the majority of participants now feel better prepared to identify disorders linked to pathological aging and to direct elderly people towards specialized care services. Faced with a growing interest in prevention and health promotion among the elderly, discussions are underway to perpetuate these actions in the canton of Valais.
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